Hand tool



Marh 22, 1938.

" J. w. GEDDES HAND TOOL Filed June 2, 1956 Patented 22 1938 FIUNITED STATE mm w. Geddelpwatertown, Mass., mu mto H. K. Porter, Inc.,- Everett, Mm, acorporation of Massachusetts Application June 2, 1936, Serial n 83,942

4 claim.

This invention relates to tools and the object is to provide a particularly simple and compact tool having parallel operating working elements or jaws capable of engaging work objects of various sizes with great firmness. A major field oi. application is in the construction of a tool for service primarily as a wrench actuated to grasp the work by closure of the hand in grasping position but which also may be utilized as a pair is of pliers or, when supported by the hand 'or otherwise, for the purposes of a small vise. Advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the illustrative embodiment thereof in a tool of the type referred to shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. l isa side elevation of the tool partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the head thereof with a part removed to disclose interior mechanism and partly broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a section through the complete tool on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, and first more particularly to Fig. 2, the form of tool shown comprises a. body portion 5 having a fixed gripping jaw i projecting therefrom which is integral or unitary therewith. Similarly projecting from the body portion in a generally opposite direction is a handle 9, the disposition of this handle depending upon the angle desired between the handle or operating portion of the tool and the jaws or gripping portion. Between the jaw i and the handle 9 the body is recessed and the inner wall thereof is provided with a way M (Fig. 3) in which a carriage i3 is adapted to slide in a direction generally transverse to the length of the handle 9. The carriage it has a flange id which enters and interlocks with a groove formed in a 40 body portion 5 a gripping jaw it opposing the fixed jaw l. The base it is formed as a rack, as best seen in Fig. 2, and may be adjusted relative to the carriage by means of the worm it journalled in the latter and meshing with the rack. The carriage l3 and held in position by means of a cover plate 2i (Fig. 3) secured by the fastenings it and it adjacent the extremities of one side of the body and fastening 27 at the other side, the cover plate and the wall on which is formed the way i i forming cheeks defining between them a chamber within the boundaries of which are received the carriage iii, the base l5 and the actuating mechanism for the carriage hereinafter to be described. The wall' and the cover plate may be provided respectively with openings 29 and M providing access of the fingers to the worm for 60 adjusting jaw i1, and preferably, as seen in Fig.

base piece is from which projects beyond the the jaw base it may be- 3, the worm does not project beyond the bounding planes of the body of the tool, thereby permitting the latter to be used in close quarters.

It will be noted that the jaw ll with its base i5 is in the embodiment shown held against movement in the vertical direction, viewing Fig. 2, solely by its interlocking connection with the carriage I3, the way H providing the sole guide for the carriage and the jaw carried thereby. The possibility of a binding movement is thus minimized.

A handle lever 33 is pivoted to the body of the tool on the pivot pin 35 traversing the chamber formed in the body and projects outwardly in opposition to the handle 9 so that the two may be manually operated as are the handles of an ordinary pair pf. pliers. sentially a bell crank lever having within the chamber of the body an arm defined by the distance between the pivot .35 and the pin 31; which pin is connected by links it to a pin ti on the ear ti depending from carriage it. The arm between 35 and ti and the links 39 thus form a toggle adapted to be operated by swinging movement of handle it to move the carriage horizon-= tally viewing Fig. 2 and thus move the jaws i and il toward or from one another. The arrangement is such that the center of the toggle 31 may move slightly past center before its movement is stopped, as by contact of the links with the carriage it or by contact of the handles at M (Fig. 2), as shown by the center line of the pivots t5 and ti in Fig. 2. When so moved reaction of the work on the jaws cannot force the same apart or move'tlie handle levers.

handles may be held loosely and the jaws adjusted by means of the worm it so that they just lightly engage with the sides of the work. The handles may then be pressed together. As the toggle straightens, the work will be gripped with tremendous force, and when thrown over center, to the position of Fig. 2, for example, the jaws will be locked upon the work. The same may then be turned and it will be impossible for the jaws to spread and release the work and there will be no strain on the grasping hand. In other words, the clasp of the hand is not relied upon to maintain the tool in gripping relation to the work. In fact, the tool when thus closed on .the work may be entirely released by the hand and will be in a self-maintaining position. 0n the other hand, if the adjustment of the jaws by means of the worm relative to the work is such that the toggle cannot be thrown past center, while a tremendously powerful grip may be exerted by means of thetoggle, a release of the grasping pressure of the hand will permit the jaws to be moved apart freely. This will permit the'tool to be used in the manner of a ratchet This handle lever is es-* dill When it is desired to grip a piece of work, the 35 wrench, for example, grasping flats of the nut in the position shown in Fig. l, and then when the grasp of the hand is released permitting the tool to be rotated relatively to the work to take a new grasp on adjacent flats. The movement of the jaws is parallel and insures firm gripping. Operated in the latter manner, the tool has the utility of a pair of pliers of similar size with the added advantage of the parallel jaw feature.

To permit use of the tool in the manner last described and prevent accidental movement of the toggle past dead center I may provide an adjustable abutment 45, here shown as a headless set screw mounted in handle 9, which may be adjusted to serve as a stop for the movable handle to prevent the toggle from being thrown over center and prevent the tool from being locked.

A third method of operation is initially to move the toggle over center and then to adjust the jaw to the work by means of the worm IS, the tool then serving in the manner of an ordinary adjustable end-wrench fitting the work without substantial clamping pressure.

In some cases a cumulative action may be utilized. The powerful pressure of the toggle is exerted. The toggle is then broken and adjustment made by the worm to compensate for the deformation of the work effected by the pressure. A second stroke may then be made, and

so on.

In the form of the invention shown the rack on the base member I5 extends to the lefthand extremity of the same, viewing Fig. 2, so that this member and its jaw Il may be withdrawn to the right by merely unscrewing the same by means of the worm, thus providing for the substitution of a similar member having a jaw face of different character.

The fastenings for cover plate 2| at the extremities of the left-hand side of the body of the tool, viewing Fig. 2, here shown as rivets 23 and 25, may be of permanent character. At the opposite side between the cheeks in the path of the carriage I3 I prefer to utilize a simple through rivet 21 and a spacing collar 28. The rivet 21 may readily be removed, and on withdrawal of pivot 35 the entire right-hand portion of the chamber between the checks is opened and the internal mechanism may be withdrawn.

As is apparent from Fig. l, the handles of the tool are unobstructed and easily grasped. The operating mechanism is housed within the chamber of the body and there are no projecting parts which would interfere with the free and convenient use of the tool under the various conditions encountered in practice.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool of the class described comprising a body having a jaw and a handle projecting therefrom in generally opposite directions, a way formed in the body extending transversely to the face of the jaw, inner and outer relatively slidable members, the outer of which carries a jaw opposing the first jaw, at least one of said members being mounted for sliding -movement along the way, means for relatively adjusting the two members, a toggle having one end pivoted to the inner member, a handle pivoted to the body and disposed in opposition to the first handle to be manually operated therewith in the manner of pliers or tongs, the inner end of the pivoted handle being operatively associated with an arm of the toggle to operate the same, the toggle adapted when straightened to move the members along the way, the jaws defining an opening between them so related to the handles as to permit application of the tool to the work in the manner of pliers or of an end wrench.

2. A parallel motion toolcomprising a body having lateral cheeks defining a chamber there between, an abutment rising from said body, a member received within the chamber, a jaw having a base slidably engaging said member, means within the chamber for slidably guiding one of said parts with said jaw parallel to the opposed abutment, means for effecting an adjustment between said base and member to any point between the extremes of adjusting movement, a toggle received in the chamber beneath said member and connected to the member at a point relatively remote from the said jaw, said toggle adapted when straightened to move the member toward the abutment, the center pivot of the toggle being movable across the line connecting its two outer pivots and a handle pivoted to the body and projecting therefrom having its inner end operatively associated with an arm of the toggle for operating the same.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a chambered body portion from which projects a pair of jaws, handle levers oppositely disposed for manipulation in the manner of pliers or tongs projecting from the body in a direction generally opposite from that of the jaws whereby the jaws may be applied to the work in the manner of pliers or an end wrench, one at least of said handle levers being pivoted on the body, a toggle mechanism housed in the body portion connected to one of said jaws and operating in a zone generally transverse to the length of the handles at the inner ends thereof leaving the distal portions unobstructed, a pivoted handle having its inner end operatively associated with anarm of the toggle for operating the same, the toggle when straightened acting to close the jaws, the center pivot of the toggle being movable across a line connecting its two outer pivots whereby the jaws maybe locked on a piece of work for acting on the same without continued approxi- .mating stress on the handles, and means for adjusting one of the jaws toward and from the other independently of the toggle.

4. A tool of the class described comprising a body having a jaw, a cooperating jaw slidably carried in said body, a handle pivoted to the body having an arm rigid therewith, a link on said arm connected with the sliding jaw, the arm and link forming a toggle adapted when straightened to move the sliding jaw toward the first named jaw, the center pivot of the toggle being movable past the line connecting its two outer pivots, and an optionally positionable stop for preventing such extreme movement.

JOHN W. GEDDES. 

